The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-11-25

breeze the canoe soon left the shorD
Tar behind.
Mother and | wrapped ourselve:
up in blankets atfather's request, anc
lay down in the bottom OF the canoe
to rest while he watched. 1t was
some time before the tapping OF the
water against the sides OF the canoe
lulled me to sleep. do not know how
long | slumbered, but | was aroused
by a sharp cry from father and a fear,
| ful tossing OF the canoe. My mother
was already sitting uD. The stars
which had studded the sky when !
! dozed off were obsCured by black
masses of clouds, gusts OF winds were
shrieking in a dismal way about u.s.
and the waves were large and high, at
times rolling into the canoe. We
knew that one Of those terrible storms
which spring up so suddenly in the
islands was about to break upon us.
God help u.s. murmured my IA
Their ]reverently, and he offered up a
prayer for de~liverance. l shai!
never forget what followed. The black
clouds seemed to open and Oelch out
fire and let loose batteries OF thunder.
The shrieking wind had the
velocity of a gale, and the canoe
was tossed like a chip upon the tops
of angry white waves that cleaned
like the white fangs of a devOurlng
monster. The sail was rent asunder
and the rain began to pour down in
torrents. Neither father nor mother
lost their self possessiOn. They COM
menced to pray again and | Joined In.
1t was all that could be done. We
clasped hands and knelt down to
await the inevitable.
Suddenly, above the roar OF the
thunder. we could distinguish q con
tinuOus rumbliug sound.
Those are breaker, and we will
soon be among them, whispered ia
Their, adding words OF comfort at the
same time. 1t did notloOka as though
our canoe would ever reach the break
ers, as it was in danger of upsettlng
each moment, the waves becoming
wider all the time. Our condition vas
truly miserable. Oh! cannot dwell
upon it! My dear mothers pale face
before me as she leaned
down and kissed me, but she said not
a word. The next thing / remem-
Der is a deafeHing crash and n sharp
cry from mother. | was struck by
something and consciousness left me.
| car reCOlleCt opening my eyes as
a profound sleep. The sun was
smiling down from a blue and cloud
less sky. | raised myself and found
-hepCean at my feet. 1t vas as pIac-
id as a lake. was lying on the wet
beach not three feet from where the
waves were ripping on the sand. My
clothes were dripping wet. The OC-
.currences of the storm came to me like
IN electric shock. My first thoughts
we're regarding father and mother.
We're they safe or-but | reached the
horrible decentralization thirty
eet away | saw the canoe cast high ,
md dry upon the beach. Itsside was
in where it had struck the rock. ,
Running up to it | saw it was empty. +
Along the stretch of beach no other ,
object was discernibIe. .
81 eyed the eXpanse of water and c
perceived q dark object bobbing up I
md down the surf. A closer view re- e
caused my blood to almost s
reeze in my veins. That which was the i
port OF the waves were the bodies Of i
ny dear parents. They were cIasped /
ogether. Overcoming the feeling of L
orror and sickness that came over (
ne l dashed into the water up to my
'alst, and, with almost superhuman
brought the bodies out of the
'ater. Dragging them to q dry spot
fell over the cold forms in a deathly !.
! recovered my senses only to J
lint again. | will not dwell upon G
hat followed. Isobbed and moaned i
here lay all day and night, and /
rayed that / might die beside my !
sther and mother. The following .
ay ! was calmer, and usingone ofthe !
road-bladed oars of the canoe, which j
found under one of the seats of the I
sssel dug d deep hole in the sand, I
I'D laid the bodies OF my father and
other IN the grave. Twas so stunned 4
I'd overcome with anguish that the
'%currences of the two or three follow !
g days are dim in my memory.
know / found some water !
'aked food in the locker OF the /
noe, and that / waded out TO the
els at low tide and gathered shellfsh. /
q grove Of cocoanut trees near the
lore 1 discovered a spring OF fresh /
AS strength returned to me /
solved to explore the vicinity and 1
9 if | could learn where / was. Be
( afraid Of meeting hostile natives,
acted with great caution, moving
ealthily through the PAIN groves.
rAs night / laid down IN some shell
red nook and used fern leaves as a
objection against the damp dews.
our days passed and / learned that
on a small island, which ZAP.
cared to be uninhabited except by a
looking species Of bat and
nah pigs and rats. The pigs were
lid and savaQe, and had to evade
to avoid being attacked. MY
nly snstenance was cocoanuts and
species d. wild berries. The nuts
'und on the ground, where they mad b
Illen during storms. According tot
" reckoning about three months Of
ais monotOu0us existence naseed